|
|
======================================================
THE ARISTOCRACY OF VIRTUE AND TALENT
>I was wondering if by any chance you had a copy or any knowledge of >Jefferson's letter to John Adams written in 1813 in which Jefferson >states: "I agree with you that there is a natural aristocracy among men. >The grounds of this are virtue and talents.. there is also an artificial >aristocracy founded on welath and birth, without either virtue or >talents." >The letter goes on I am sure, and I would love to know what was in the >rest of the body. I would greatly appreciate it if you could reply, either >to >this address or to Ogreena@aol.com. Thank you very much. This letter to John Adams is in the Library of America volume of Jefferson's Writings, edited by Merrill Peterson, pg.1304. That book should be available in any public or college library. Most of the letter is concerned with education and the means for establishing public schools.